Hebrew-English Text
I. Summary
God chastises Israel’s leaders and promises to gather in the exiles.
II. Photo
A note about the rain: “Ask the Lord for rain in the season of late rain. It is the Lord who causes storms and he will provide rainstorms for them, grass in the fields for everyone!” (v. 1)
III. Select Verses
1: Ask the LORD for rain in the season of late rain. It is the LORD who causes storms; And He will provide rainstorms for them, Grass in the fields for everyone.
2-3: For the teraphim spoke delusion, The augurs predicted falsely; And dreamers speak lies And console with illusions. That is why My people have strayed like a flock, They suffer for lack of a shepherd. My anger is roused against the shepherds, And I will punish the he-goats. For the LORD of Hosts has taken thought In behalf of His flock, the House of Judah; He will make them like majestic chargers in battle.
6: I will give victory to the House of Judah, And triumph to the House of Joseph. I will restore them, for I have pardoned them, And they shall be as though I had never disowned them; For I the LORD am their God, And I will answer their prayers.
10-12: I will bring them back from the land of Egypt And gather them from Assyria; And I will bring them to the lands of Gilead and Lebanon, And even they shall not suffice for them. A hemmed-in force shall pass over the sea And shall stir up waves in the sea; And all the deeps of the Nile shall dry up. Down shall come the pride of Assyria, And the scepter of Egypt shall pass away. But I will make them mighty through the LORD, And they shall march proudly in His name — declares the LORD.
IV. Outline
1. God brings the rain
2-3a. Israel has been mislead
3b-7. The Israelites will become mighty warriors
8-10. God will ingather the exiles
11. Assyria and Egypt will fall
12. Israel’s future pride
V. Comment
No comment today. Stay tuned.
VI. Works Used
(see “Commentaries” page)
Collins, John J. “Introduction to the Hebrew Bible,” (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2004).
Smith, Ralph L. “Micah – Malachi” World Biblical Commentary v. 32 (Word Books: 1984).
Photo taken from http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kzj0EvsWDqc/TJW5tbMVSUI/AAAAAAAAAW8/MBdXnPppMzc/s1600/girl-dancing-rain.jpg
